During the day, they're just regular people like you. But at night, a group in Dallas has been wearing disguises and operating outside the law to try to lure kids ... to the good side.

In their spare time, a group of police officers started wearing elaborate superhero costumes to try to instill moral values in kids. Many of them spent thousands out of their own pockets for the equipment.

Now they're making a break for Houston.

The group is called Heroes, Cops and Kids and since 2011 they've toured schools, hospitals, and anywhere else they're needed, dressed in full superhero outifts.

And they have a message to preach: Honor, Education, Respect and the power of One. Or H.E.R.O., as they put it.

"We do put bad guys in jail," Officer Rick Campbell, aka Batman, said of his daytime job. "A lot of the time they are kids, kids going into shopping centers shooting over Air Jordan sneakers. You have to instill some sort of value system, nobody seems to be doing that."

That frustration inspired him and nine others to start their new double life, filling a spiritual and moral gap that they claim cannot be done in their daytime uniforms.

"It's hard to legislate morality," said Campbell.

It's the pet project of him and his friend, Officer Ray McCampbell, aka the Green Lantern. McCampbell already had a taste of fame in the '80s when he had a No. 1 hit on the R&B chart with Roses are Red, written by 10 time Grammy award winner Babyface.

"I grew up in a rough area and when I became a police officer, I wanted to help in the best way I could," McCampbell said. "A lot of the time contact with the police is negative. Everybody loves a superhero."

The group has the backing of the Dallas Police Department, but technically operates outside the law, just like their namesakes.

"I wouldn't call us renegades," said Snake Eyes, or Sgt. Merlin Lofton, as his friends know him. "We are on the right side of the law, everything we do is to push positive thoughts and influences. We're crusaders, not renegades."

In Dallas they've become a big hit, last year appearing at dozens of events from elementary school award ceremonies and hospital visits to shopping center appearances with their Batmobile and Superman mobile in tow.

"The response has been great, people love us," said Sgt. Lofton.

In total, there are five police officers and five who have other daytime jobs. Storm is a mortgage broker and Batgirl is a teacher.

They are already booked for eight events in the New Year and have applied to be part of the Martin Luther King Parade in Houston.

"We would love to take our message out to other cities," said Campbell.

Some may be uncomfortable with a unregulated group using comic book characters to push morals on kids and their spiritual message is one reason why they have had to stay separate from police, but the group says it's a key part of what they do.

"We have Christian values and we dont shy away from that," says Officer Rick "Batman" Campbell. "Those things should never be taboo, we should never be afraid to talk about what God has done for you."

He said they make it clear to schools and other groups where they're coming from, so everyone has a choice about whether to bring them on board.